The Order of Servants of Mary, gathered in the 213th General Chapter at Pietralba, is pleased to write to you, brothers and sisters of the Servite Family. We gladly use the same words that have been in our shared prayer together at this gathering, words that have inspired our reflections and evaluations during these days. Now we want to declare with you those same words, which are words that have changed the course of human history. These words opened the way for the God of life to come and be present among us, taking flesh in our human nature: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be done onto me according to your word" (Lk 1:38). We wish that Mary’s firm and lively reply to the angel, which is portrayed in the icon of the Annunziata, will come to you as our loyal and heartfelt greeting, for you to be in communion with us with a joy that is complete (1John 1:3-4).

We have come from all over the world. We have brought our different experiences, struggles, dreams and worries to this meeting. We have been still at this mountain shrine of Pietralba in an spirit of listening, of mutual acceptance and the sharing of gifts. Our aim has been to renew our personal commitment to Jesus, Master and way of life for us. We wish to be like Mary, people of communion together, in accordance with our vocation as Servants.

We know we live in a world of constant change. We remain attentive to the signs of the times. We strive to respond courageously to the new challenges and demands that human history is presenting to us. We endeavor to listen to the new needs of women and men today. We are looking at a humanity that is on the move, progressing and developing, yet still divided by barriers and prejudices. We want to look at every situation where we find ourselves with the same eyes of the Virgin of Nazareth. With her we want to hold her own attitude of tenderness, and pour the oil of compassion on every wound inflicted by injustice, intolerance and human violence. We want to collaborate with Christ the Son to put down the powerful from their thrones and raise the lowly. We want to send the rich away empty and to fill the hungry with good things (Luke 1:52-53). This way we can surely take hold of the gift of God’s ineffable love. Thus we follow Mary, who accepted God’s love with meekness and passion. So we may unite our voices in a new song of praise:

- To the Father who seeks worshippers with sincerity and loyal love (Jn 4:23). Let us express our thanks and prolong in our own lives his his own quality of love. As we listen to the invitation of Jesus: "If only you knew the gift of God" (Jn 4:10), we also experience the urge to quench our thirst and to get out of situations of rigidity and immobility and be able to be a true home for the God who has set his tent in our midst. Assured of God’s indwellint, we are drawn to live in the dignity of the children of God. This makes us strong in adversity, however it might come to us. And when we are in touch with human misery, we will not give up a sense of beauty in everything God has arranged. We learn to echo in ourselves the harmony of God’s primordial delight when he saw "that everything was very good!” (Gn 1:31). This is the prophetic message that we wish to announce. This is the the project we are called to build: "a new heaven and a new earth" (Rev 21:3), where the One who makes all things new, never ceases to touich us with his hand to wipe away every tear. With Mary, all Servants, brothers and sisters, in the Kingdom, we commit ourselves to those same gestures which bear consolation and comfort to every situation of suffering. In the name of the Father, in whom we profess our faith, none of us will a cause of pain that brings tears to others. We will be only a source of joy and hope that will take away all sadness.

- To the Son, who came among us to make our joy complete (Jn 15:11), we renew our dedication and commitment to put the wellbeing of others at the centre of our lives. Being called to be salt for the earth and light for the world (Mt 5:13-14), we want to live his Word with one mind and one heart, living in our flesh all his his own feelings, his choices and his actions. While we are aware of our limitations and weaknesses, we recognise that we have a priceless treasure in earthen vessels (2 Cor 4:7). We endeavour to answer the Lord’ call every day, as he invites us to cast our nets wherever human beings are still denied their freedom, wherever human rights are trampled, wherever the vicious logic of self-interest corrupts and destroys people’s lives and relationships. Our limited energy and size in this world should not be seen as an obstacle on our way. Rather, we trust in the One who always chooses what the world considers worthless, to confound the plans of the strong and the wise (1Cor 1:27). We wish to embrace our limits as a stimulus to move forward. We set out on a journey to the edges of human history. We carry with us the gift of love that we have freely received and willingly pass on to others with generosity and passion. We do this in the name of the Son, in whom we profess our faith. We pray that no-one be ever divested of their dignity, nor deprived of that freedom that allows them to live a life that is meaningful and serene.

- To the Spirit, the source of every gift and every consolation, we open our minds and hearts to express an imaginative newness which will bring us to to the fullness of life in accordance with the plan of God. As the Servite Family, we are sensitive to our diversity of ethnicities, cultures, mentalities and experiences. This is a real wealth for our witness in the world. It creates bonds of fraternity and peace with all creatures. Recognising how sin creates division, let us live a daily conversion. We will refrain from saying: "I am right and you are wrong". We want to banish from us anything that divides and prevents us from welcoming the uniqueness of the other. In diversity we discover the creativity of the Spirit. So let us work to promote unity and harmony in our homes and regions and nations. In the name of the Holy Spirit, in whom we profess our faith, may no-one feel excluded or marginalized. May each of us be a shared particle of Truth, as we embrace the small truths of everyday life like the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit. Together, in respect for others, those particles come together and show forth the Spirit all God’s strength and greatness.

May our praise be echoed in the song of life. There the Word is made flesh and opens us to an ever-new fruitfulness. As Servants of the Virgin Mary full of grace, we are also ready to announce the gift that has been given to us. So we go and stand alongside who are being crucified today, and not with the ones who crucify others. We stand alongside those who are being condemned and not with the ones who condemn others; we stand alongside those who are being marginalized and not with the ones who exclude people.

May Holy Mary help all of us, her Servants, brothers and sisters, to welcome the loving plan of God with joy and complete willingness. In this way may we know how to be, within the Church and in the world, an expression of fraternity and solidarity, a visible presence of God's compassionate embrace, a vital yeast for building the Kingdom of God.